Random Seed

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Golden Turtle

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Message 3150 - Posted: 14 Nov 2005, 4:28:38 UTC
Last modified: 14 Nov 2005, 4:29:12 UTC

Can somone please explain 'Random Seeds'?
I see:- #====etc #random seed: {eg}1021801#=== etc
and also sometimes a second #random seed# and occasionaly a third, they appear on each WU showing in BOINC LogX history for each WU completed.
Are lower numbers good or bad?
I have looked in the Wiki but see no explanation.
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Profile David E K
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Message 3155 - Posted: 14 Nov 2005, 5:13:58 UTC

The random seed is an initial integer used by our random number generator. Given a seed value, it provides a random number which ultimately determines the trajectory of the predictions. In other words, identical work units that use the same random number seed should provide identical results. However, since there can be numerical differences between different operating systems and architectures there can be differences in results even with the same random number seed.

Each time a rosetta run initializes, it may either generate a seed based on the time on your computer or use a seed that we provide. If the seed is based on the time on your computer, then different #random seed# values may occur when the run is stopped and restarted.

We use the random number generator ran3 from numerical recipes. I have heard that lower numbers using this method may produce non-random numbers but we avoid low numbers.
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Message 3159 - Posted: 14 Nov 2005, 6:09:04 UTC

David.
Many thanks for your reply, I think I understand.
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